FedEx Orange Bowl Notebook

Jan. 4, 2001

By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI - Bob Stoops wouldn't be surprised to see his Oklahoma Sooners playing for another national championship next year.

Even though they lose four starters on offense and five on defense, Stoops said the Sooners have plenty of experienced players ready to step in and fill holes on his national championship team.

"You don't realize how young a team we are," Stoops said after Oklahoma's 13-2 win over No. 3 Florida State in the Orange Bowl, a victory that gave the Sooners their seventh national championship but first since 1985. "We have 22 freshman and sophomores on the two-deep (roster)."

The Sooners will, though, have to replace their two biggest stars on both sides of the ball.

They lose senior quarterback Josh Heupel, who went 25-of-39 passing for 214 yards against the Seminoles, and senior linebacker Torrance Marshall, who had a sack, an interception and six tackles en route to being named the game's most valuable player.

They also lose safety T.J. Thatcher, defensive tackle Ryan Fisher, defensive end Corey Callens and linebacker Roger Steffen on the unit that ranked eighth in the nation in total defense.

Offensively, running back Seth Littrell and linemen Scott Kempenich and Bubba Burcham will be gone. But with all the receivers coming back and quarterback Nate Hybl anticipated to take over in the spring, Stoops figures the Sooners could stay atop college football's field.

"Across the board, we have a lot of young players on both offense and defense," he said.

No underclassmen are expected to leave school early.

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CONCERN FOR CODY:
Florida State cornerback Tay Cody, who caused a fumble and had an interception in the first quarter of the Orange Bowl, was taken to a hospital with a possible spleen injury, but later returned to the game.

Cody, a senior who led the Seminoles with six interceptions this season, had to be helped to the locker room in the second quarter with a bruised abdomen. A short time later, he was taken to the hospital and cleared to return to play.

His hit on Oklahoma's Andre Woolfolk caused a fumble that Florida State recovered in the first quarter of the Sooners' 13-2 victory.

Then, with the Sooners driving near the end of the quarter, Cody intercepted Josh Heupel's pass at the Seminoles 8.

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BONUS TIME:
Stoops is $250,000 richer as a result of the Sooners winning the national championship.

Just getting to the Orange Bowl game gave Stoops a $100,000 bonus, the victory added another $150,000 bonus for the second-year coach.

Stoops' contract pays him $1.4 million annually. He could make a total of $1,957,000 if he reaches all the incentives in the deal.

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GOOD GENES:
Oklahoma linebacker Rocky Calmus says he can't remember the last time he was fully healthy for a game.

He played most of this season with a broken bone above his right thumb, an injury that has since healed. He played last year's game against Oklahoma State with a broken ankle.

During his career, he also has been hampered by a separated shoulder, sprained knee, pulled hamstring, deep thigh bruise and a rib cage problem.

But he keeps on playing.

"I guess I just get it from my mom. She's a tough woman, having me," he said.

Calmus weighed 11 pounds, 11 ounces at birth.

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SOONER OR LATER:
Oklahoma is one of the few teams that has held an edge over Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden.

In his 25 years at Florida State, Bowden has faced 60 schools. Only five have a winning record against him, and four of them are 1-0.

The Sooners, however, improved to 4-0 against Bowden's Seminoles with Wednesday's Orange Bowl win. Oklahoma beat Florida State in 1976, then did it again in the Orange Bowls in 1980 and 1981.

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ORANGE SLICES:
Alex Rodriguez, the Texas Rangers' $252 million man, attended the Orange Bowl in his hometown Wednesday night. Other celebrities on hand included: Tiger Woods, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Butch Davis, Brian Bosworth. Actor Denzel Washington flipped the coin before the game. ... Antwone Savage and Quentin Griffin both broke Oklahoma's school record for consecutive games with a reception at 18. The record was previously held by teammate Damian Mackey. ... Oklahoma linebacker Torrance Marshall played fullback in the third quarter, his first appearance on offense. ... The Seminoles were shut out in the first half for the second time this season. Miami also shut out FSU in October. Florida State lost both games.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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